My Buzzword Woes：甲方

 

Occasionally, while reading Korean comics, I come across the phrase "搶占甲方的位置(seize the position of the 갑 (Gap))."

In Taiwan, the terms "甲方" (Party A) and "乙方" (Party B) are commonly used in contracts. You'll often see something like "The name of the first party （以下稱為甲方）(hereinafter referred to as Party A)." This is a convention primarily used to simplify the wording of subsequent clauses. There are no strict rules dictating which party is which; the designation is typically based on the nature of the contract and the roles of the parties involved.

In Korea, however, the terms "甲方" (갑, Gap) and "乙方" (을, Eul) are much more than just a contractual shorthand. They are deeply embedded in the social culture and carry implicit meanings of hierarchy and power dynamics.

In traditional Korean society and business culture, "甲方" (갑, Gap) is the party with the dominant position. For example:

• In an employment contract, the employer is the "甲方" (갑, Gap)
• In a rental agreement, the landlord is the "甲方" (갑, Gap)
• In a supply chain, a large corporation or brand is the "甲方" (갑, Gap)

The "甲方" (갑, Gap) typically holds the final say, and can even unilaterally modify contract terms or exert pressure. The party that must accept these conditions—such as an employee, a tenant, a small supplier, or a contractor—is the "乙方" (을, Eul). To maintain the business relationship, they must accept the conditions set by the "甲方" (갑, Gap).

This culture of unequal power has even given rise to a new term, "갑질" (Gapjil), which literally means "甲方的行為(Gap's behavior)." It's a term specifically used to describe a powerful party's unreasonable or even tyrannical actions against a subordinate party, leveraging their superior position. For example, a large corporation's unilateral price squeezing of a small business or a manager's power harassment of an employee would both be considered "갑질(Gap's behavior)."

But don't worry, in Taiwan, 甲方 (Party A) and 乙方 (Party B) are simply conventional abbreviations. They hold equal legal standing, with no implied power hierarchy.